2004 645Ci headlights

[loulou2204]

Hi there, I'm new to the forum and wondered if anyone can help me please? I have a 2004 645Ci and need a new set of headlights. I can not seem to find any apart from buying new from BMW which unfortunately I just don't have the funds for.

It's so complicated as I think I've found some that will fit when I do a search on eBay or google search, but when I put in the reg or VIN plate of my car then it will say 'this item is not suitable for your vehicle' or something similar. 

Can anyone help me with what I need to search for? A part number etc? Or does anyone here have a set they are selling?

Many thanks for reading.

Louise

[Greydog]

Morning Louise

Welcome to the Forum

There is an online parts list for all BMW cars www.realoem.com put the last 7 digits of your Vin number into the search box it will bring up your model, the open the headlight section you will have the part number you need.

There are several BMW specialist recyclers out there Google will help plus Ebay 

What is the issue with your lights ? are they cloudy? if they are the lenses can be polished. Your lights should be Bi Xenon so plenty of light so is it an issue with any of the control units (so you may not need complete lights)

Dave

[loulou2204]

14 hours ago, Greydog said:

Morning Louise

Welcome to the Forum

There is an online parts list for all BMW cars www.realoem.com put the last 7 digits of your Vin number into the search box it will bring up your model, the open the headlight section you will have the part number you need.

There are several BMW specialist recyclers out there Google will help plus Ebay 

What is the issue with your lights ? are they cloudy? if they are the lenses can be polished. Your lights should be Bi Xenon so plenty of light so is it an issue with any of the control units (so you may not need complete lights)

Dave

Hi Dave,

 

Thank you so much for your very helpful reply. I don't exactly know whats wrong with the lights, I've just been told they need replacing. I will get some more info when I can and reply back.

Thank you again,

 

Louise 

[Greydog]

Morning Louise

Who told you you needed new headlamps? Your BMW Dealer perhaps?

Most Dealers for all makes of car don't fix things they change them for new, a sad reflection on the times we live in I am afraid. 

Dave

[loulou2204]

On 2/28/2021 at 7:47 AM, Greydog said:

Morning Louise

Who told you you needed new headlamps? Your BMW Dealer perhaps?

Most Dealers for all makes of car don't fix things they change them for new, a sad reflection on the times we live in I am afraid. 

Dave

Hi Dave, this is what I have sent the previous company who looked at the car. I will include their reply on my next reply...............

 

Hi there, we bought our BMW to you last October as we were having problems with the headlights and we thought it may be water getting into the electrics and making the lights malfunction. You investigated this for us and found this wasn’t the case. You fitted a new ballast for us.

We have had ongoing issues with the lights and now we can’t drive the vehicle at night as it’s dangerous and the lights just don’t light up the road. It is not safe to drive any longer at night. 

When we collected the car, you said you were going to order something for the back of the lights (no idea what this thing was called) and let us know when it was in. We heard nothing from you. We rang and spoke to someone who said they would look into this and get back to us. To date, we still haven’t heard anything from you.

In between this we took the car to our local garage for something else but also to look at the lights as they were being a problem yet again. They told us that there was nothing holding the lights in place which was why they were moving around inside the light unit and they were being held in place by loads and loads of sticky pads!!?? We spent £500 at your garage and wouldn’t have expected to find out that bits of the lights were held together with sticky pads to try and keep them in one place! This hasn’t worked and things are moving around.

We just need the lights to work and to be able to drive the car. Can you confirm you can order and fit the part you said you would order in please? And also look into why the lights now aren’t working at all? If part of the problem is the ballast that was fitted then I was told at the time it came with a 12 month warranty.

We look forward to hearing from you,

[loulou2204]

 

On 2/28/2021 at 7:47 AM, Greydog said:

Morning Louise

Who told you you needed new headlamps? Your BMW Dealer perhaps?

Most Dealers for all makes of car don't fix things they change them for new, a sad reflection on the times we live in I am afraid. 

Dave

And their reply......................

 

Thank you for your e-mail. 

 

I am sorry to hear that you are still having issues, however we will be more than happy for you to bring the car back and get it sorted. 

 

I have discussed it with Mike and he has informed me that the condition of the lights was discussed with yourself. Multiple anchoring points were damaged/broken due to third party interruption. He has done his best to keep the lights in place as otherwise we will need to replace the lights at a very significant cost. I'm unsure whether the potential price of new lights was mentioned to you at the time, but this would be significant.

 

With regards to the part being ordered, there is no recollection of this on the invoice and apologies if this has been missed as result of human error.

 

However, we are more than happy to book your vehicle back in with us. We would need the vehicle for a good week or so, due to the availability of any parts needed. There will be no extra charge on the return of your vehicle.

 

Please don't hesitate to contact me and we can arrange when would be a convenient time for you to bring your vehicle back to us.

 

[Greydog]

Hi Louise

Seems like your getting the run around the attached is from www.realoem.com a BMW online parts list the prices are in $ as it is a US site the drawing may help you understand the parts that can be changed.

It seems the first garage are claiming that someone else had tampered with the lights? So 1st question "Did you buy the car from them?" in which case the sale of goods act will help you as you have a right to expect the goods to be of merchantable quality (clearly not if the lights don't work)

Their estimate of a "Week or So" seems to open ended for me how are you supposed to get around? Document everything is my best advice. Your headlamps have a ballast and 2 control units which can be changed but you will need the correct Bi xenon Ballast and control units (realoem is the tool to make sure you do)

645 Headlamp.pdf

 

 

[loulou2204]

On 3/10/2021 at 4:28 PM, Greydog said:

Hi Louise

Seems like your getting the run around the attached is from www.realoem.com a BMW online parts list the prices are in $ as it is a US site the drawing may help you understand the parts that can be changed.

It seems the first garage are claiming that someone else had tampered with the lights? So 1st question "Did you buy the car from them?" in which case the sale of goods act will help you as you have a right to expect the goods to be of merchantable quality (clearly not if the lights don't work)

Their estimate of a "Week or So" seems to open ended for me how are you supposed to get around? Document everything is my best advice. Your headlamps have a ballast and 2 control units which can be changed but you will need the correct Bi xenon Ballast and control units (realoem is the tool to make sure you do)

645 Headlamp.pdf 488.8 kB · 2 downloads

 

 

Hi Greydog,

Thank you so much for replying, I didn't know you had until I logged on here again. Is there anyway of getting a notification to let me know when I have a reply?

We didn't buy the car from the first garage, we took it to them when we realised the lights were a problem. I will document everything anyway and will use realoem to make sure everything is correct. 

Thank you once again, your input is invaluable! Brilliant!! 🙂

 

[Bimmer Owners Club]

On 3/13/2021 at 11:49 PM, loulou2204 said:

Thank you so much for replying, I didn't know you had until I logged on here again. Is there anyway of getting a notification to let me know when I have a reply?

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